(laughs) What if I said
something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici'? My dad said that when he
came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would
it sound like?

THE DOCTOR

I'm not sure -- you have to think of
difficult questions, don't you?

DONNA

I'm gonna try it.

DONNA walks up to a stallholder.

STALLHOLDER

Hello, sweetheart. What can I
get for you, my love?

DONNA

Veni, vidi, vici.

STALLHOLDER

Hunh? Sorry? Me no speak
Celtic. No can do, missy.

DONNA

Yeah. (walks back to THE
DOCTOR ) What does he mean 'Celtic'?

THE DOCTOR

Welsh. You sound Welsh. There
we are. That's something.

THE DOCTOR and DONNA keep walking through the streets
unaware that a red-robed young woman is watching them.

DONNA

Won't our clothes look a bit odd?

THE DOCTOR

Nah. Ancient Rome, anything
goes. It's like Soho... but bigger.

DONNA

You've been here before then?

The woman follows them.

THE DOCTOR

Hm, ages ago. Before you ask,
that fire had nothing to do with me. Well, a little bit, but I hadn't gotten
the chance to look around properly. Coliseum... Pantheon... Circus Maximus... You'd
expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything? (stops and looks
around)Try this way.

They walk on, the woman still following. They come to
a wider street and DONNA looks about.

DONNA

I'm not an expert, but there are
Seven Hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they only got one?

THE DOCTOR looks to one mountain in the distance. Suddenly the ground shakes.

MAN

Here we go again.

The vendors do what they can to save their stalls and
merchandise.

DONNA

Wait a minute! One mountain... with
smoke... which makes this...

THE DOCTOR

Pompeii. We're in Pompeii... and
it's Volcano Day!

{OPENING CREDITS}

INT. TEMPLE OF SIBYL

The young woman runs into what turns out to be a
temple. Inside are other women in red. She prostrates herself in front of a
contained fire.

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER

I beg audience with the High
Priestess of the Sibylline.

SISTER SPURRINA

The High Priestess cannot be
seen. What would you tell her, sister?

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER

It has come... as foretold in the
prophecy. The box... the blue box.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

THE DOCTOR and DONNA race through the streets of
Pompeii. They arrive back where they started only to find the TARDIS gone.

DONNA

You're kidding. Don't tell me
the TARDIS is gone.

THE DOCTOR

Okay.

DONNA

Where is it then?

THE DOCTOR

You told me not to tell you.

DONNA

Don't get clever in Latin.

THE DOCTOR

Um...excuse me! Excuse me! (runs
to same stallholder) There was a box--big, blue box. Big, blue, wooden box...just
over there. Where's it gone?

STALLHOLDER

(smugly) Sold it, didn't
I?

THE DOCTOR

But... it wasn't yours to sell.

STALLHOLDER

It was on my patch, wasn't it? I
got 15 sesterce for it. Lovely jubbly.

He rubs hands together.

THE DOCTOR

Who did you sell it to?

STALLHOLDER

Old Caecilius. Look... if you
want to argue, why don't you take it up with him? He's on Foss Street. Big
villa can't miss it.

THE DOCTOR

Thanks. (He and DONNA run
off but he comes back, slightly bemused) What did he buy a big, blue wooden
box for?

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA

The TARDIS has just been placed in a corner of the
main room of the villa and the servants are now scurrying away.

CAECILIUS

(joyfully)Modern art! Out
of the way, that's it! (shoos his servants out of the way. Stops one of
them) Oh, Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some ants in honey,
there's a good man. Ooh, maybe a dormouse!

CAECILUS' wife, METALLA, is looking on. She clearly
does not approve of this so-called modern art.

CAECILIUS

What do you think?

METELLA

You call it modern art. I call
it a bloody great waste of space.

CAECILIUS

But we're going up in the world,
my love. Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What,
with that and our Evelina about to be elevated...

EVELINA, their daughter enters the room, seemingly
bored with CAECILUS going on about her.

EVELINA

Oh, don't go on about it, Dad.

METELLA

If we had moved to Rome like I
said, she could have been a Vestal Virgin.

Their teenage son, QUINTUS enters the room, seemingly
just have woken up from a night on the town.

QUINTUS

Someone mention Vestal Virgins?

METELLA

Quintus, don't be so rude. You
apologize to the household gods.

QUINTUS

Get off.

METELLA

Apologize right now. The gods
are always watching.

The ground rumbles.

CAECILIUS

Positions!

The family run to their "positions" around
the villa to keep valuables from falling and breaking. When the rumbling
stops, Caecilius kisses the head of a male bust.

METELLA

There, now you've made the
household gods angry. Just say sorry.

QUINTUS goes to the shrine of the household gods.

METELLA

I tell you, Caecilius, that boy
will come to no good.

QUINTUS

(puts fingers in chalice and
sprinkles water on a marble frieze) Sorry, household gods.

CAECILIUS

So where were you last night?
Down the thelopolium, I bet, cavorting with Etruscans, Christians and all
sorts. How's your head, sunshine? How's your head?

She has the gift. (holds up
EVELINA'S hand with an eye painted on it) Be proud of your sister for once.
(to EVELINA) Have you been consuming?

EVELINA

Not this morning.

METELLA

Well, come on, sweetheart.
Practice. It's hot today. (leads EVELINA to the hypocaust in the centre of
the room)The hypocaust is on full blast.(they sit on the ledge around
it)The mountain god must be happy. Breathe deeply. Remember what the
sisterhood said.

EVELINA leans over and breathes deep.

EVELINA

It hurts.

METELLA

Oh, my love, is it too hot?

EVELINA

(shakes head)Sometimes in
the smoke... I see the most terrible things.

METELLA

Like what?

EVELINA

A face. A face of stone.

METELLA

It'll make sense... one day... Sister
Spurrina promised it. The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer.

METELLA leaves EVELINA sitting by the hypocaust. She
breathes and looks down into the heat. Below a creature of stone looks up and
growls.

EVELINA

(leans back) Who are you?

EXT. DAY, POMPEII STREETS

THE DOCTOR runs through the streets back to DONNA.

THE DOCTOR

Ha! I've got it! Foss Street,
this way!

DONNA

No, I've found this big sort of
amphitheatre I think... We can start there. We can get everyone together.
Then maybe they've got a great, big bell or something we could ring. Have they
invented bells yet?

THE DOCTOR

(puzzled) What do you want
a bell for?

DONNA

To warn everyone! To start the
evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt? When's it due?

THE DOCTOR

(serious)It's 79 AD, 23 of
August which makes Volcano Day tomorrow.

DONNA

Plenty of time. We can get
everyone out easy.

THE DOCTOR

Except we're not going to.

He grabs her by the hand.

DONNA

(doesn't budge)But that's
what you do. You're the Doctor. You save people.

THE DOCTOR

But not this time. Pompeii is a
fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it.

You stand in the marketplace and
announce the end of the world, they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer.
Now, come on. TARDIS, we are getting out of here.

She storms off.

DONNA

Well, I just might have something
to say about that, spaceman!

THE DOCTOR

Oh, I bet you will!

DONNA follows. The YOUNG SOOTHSAYER watches them
leave. She places her hands -- which have eyes painted on the back -- over her eyes
and communicates with the other sisters.

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER

The tall one, he calls us mad.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SISTER SPURRINA is in the temple, hands over her eyes.

SISTER SPURRINA

Then he is a stranger to
Pompeii. Soon he will learn.

SISTER THALINA arrives with two others. She is
carrying a scroll.

SISTER THALINA

We have found it, Sister
Spurrina. In the 13th book of the Sybiline oracle. The blue box. (unrolls
scroll to reveal a drawing of the TARDIS) A temple made of wood... and yet
the Sibyl foretold the box would appear at a time of storms and fire and
betrayal.

HIGH PRIESTESS

(strained)Sisters...

The sisters move to stand in front of a gauze curtain.

SPURRINA

Reverend Mother, you should
sleep.

HIGH PRIESTESS

The Sibylline oracles are wrong.

SPURRINA

But we have venerated her words
for generations.

HIGH PRIESTESS

This is a new age. Heed my
words. I predict a future of prosperity and might... and endless empire of
Pompeii, reaching out from this city to topple Rome itself and encompass the
whole wide world. If the disciples of the blue box defy this prophecy, their
blood will run on the temple floor.

The ground rumbles and the sisters gasp and look up.

SPURRINA

The gods approve!

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS

Positions!

CAECILIUS, METELLA and EVELINA run to their appointed
places. THE DOCTOR saves the bust from falling before CAECILIUS gets there.

THE DOCTOR

Whoa!(slaps its cheeks)
There you go.

CAECILIUS

Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid
business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, that's me.

He leans forward to shake CAECILIUS' hand. I'm a visitor. Hello.

CAECILIUS

Who are you?

THE DOCTOR

I am... Spartacus.

DONNA

And so am I.

CAECILIUS

Mr and Mrs Spartacus?

THE DOCTOR

Oh no, we're not married.

DONNA

Not together.

CAECILIUS

Oh, then brother and sister?
Yes, of course. You look very much alike.

I'm sure it's fine but I might
have to take it off your hands for a proper inspection.

DONNA

Although, while we're here,
wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?

THE DOCTOR

I don't know what you mean,
Spartacus.

DONNA

Oh, this lovely family, mother
and father and son... Don't you think they should get out of town?

CAECILIUS

Why should we do that?

THE DOCTOR rubs his eye as
DONNA tries to explain.

DONNA

Well, the volcano for starters.

CAECILIUS

(puzzled) What?

DONNA

Volcano.

CAECILIUS

What-ano?

DONNA

That great big volcano right on
your doorstep.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, Spartacus, for shame. We
haven't even greeted the household gods yet.(pulls her away towards the
shrine)They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them.
The top hasn't blown off yet.(sprinkles frieze with water) The Romans
haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow.

DONNA

(sarcastic) Oh great.
They can learn a new word... when they die.

THE DOCTOR

Donna, stop it.

DONNA

Listen, I don't know what sort of
kids you've been flyin' around with in outer space, but you're not telling me
to shut up. That boy...(points to QUINTUS) how old is he, sixteen?
And tomorrow he burns to death.

THE DOCTOR

And that's my fault?

DONNA

Right now, yes!

The servant, Rhombus, enters the room.

RHOMBUS

Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus,
Chief Augur of the city government.

An older man strides in, a man who knows his
position. He wears his cloak so it drapes over his right side.

CAECILIUS

Lucius, my pleasure as always.

THE DOCTOR and DONNA leave the shrine, curious to see
the visitor.

METELLA

Quintus, stand up.

QUINTUS stands with a long-suffering sigh.

CAECILIUS

A rare and great honour, sir, for
you to come to my house.

He holds out hand but LUCIUS ignores it.

LUCIUS

The birds are flying north... and
the wind is in the west.

CAECILIUS

(puzzled)Right.
Absolutely. That's good, is it?

LUCIUS

Only the grain of wheat knows
where it will grow.

CAECILIUS

There now, Metella, have you ever
heard such wisdom?

METELLA

Never. It's an honour.

CAECILIUS

Pardon me, sir, I have guests.
This is Spartacus, and, uh, Spartacus.

THE DOCTOR and DONNA both wave.

LUCIUS

A name is but a cloud upon a
summer wind.

THE DOCTOR

But the wind is felt most keenly
in the dark.

LUCIUS

Ah! What is the dark other than
an omen of the sun?

THE DOCTOR

I concede that every sun must set...

LUCIUS

Ha!

THE DOCTOR

...and yet the son of the father
must also rise.

LUCIUS

Damn. Very clever, sir.
Evidently a man of learning.

THE DOCTOR

Oh yes, but don't mind me. Don't
want to disturb the status quo.

CAECILIUS

(whispers)He's Celtic.

THE DOCTOR

We'll be off in a minute.

He takes DONNA and heads for the TARDIS.

DONNA

(subdued) I'm not going.

CAECILIUS

(to Lucius) It's ready,
sir.

THE DOCTOR

You've got to.

DONNA

Well I'm not.

CAECILIUS

The moment of revelation.(unveils
a square piece of marble) And here it is...

THE DOCTOR looks back over his shoulder. The design on
the marble is familiar.

CAECILIUS

Exactly as you specified. It
pleases you, sir?

THE DOCTOR and DONNA stop.

LUCIUS

As the rain pleases the soil.

Curiosity aroused, THE DOCTOR rejoins them.

THE DOCTOR

Oh now that's... different. Who
designed that then?

CAECILIUS

My lord Lucius was very specific.

THE DOCTOR

Where'd you get the pattern?

LUCIUS

On the rain and mist and wind.

DONNA

Well that looks like a circuit.

THE DOCTOR

Made of stone.

DONNA

Do you mean you just dreamt that
up?

LUCIUS

That is my job... as City Augur.

DONNA

What's that then, like the mayor?

THE DOCTOR

Oh, ah, you must excuse my
friend. She's from... Barcelona. (aside to DONNA) This is an age of
superstition... of official superstition. The augur is paid by the city to
tell the future. "The wind will blow from the west." That's the
equivalent of the 10:00 news.

EVELINA joins them looking pale and drawn, barley able
to stand.

EVELINA

They're laughing at us. Those
two, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us.

THE DOCTOR

No, no. I meant no offence.

METELLA

I'm sorry. My daughter's been
consuming the vapours.

She walks to EVELINA.

QUINTUS

By the gods, Mother! What have
you been doing to her?

CAECILIUS

Not now, Quintus.

QUINTUS

But she's sick. Just look at
her.

LUCIUS

I gather I have a rival in this
household. Another with the gift.

METELLA

(proudly)Oh, she's been
promised to the Sybiline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions.

LUCIUS

The prophecies of women are
limited and dull. Only the men folk have the capacity for true perception.

DONNA

I'll tell you where the wind's
blowing right now, mate.

The ground quakes.

LUCIUS

The mountain god marks your
words. I'd be careful if I were you.

THE DOCTOR

Consuming the vapours, you say?

EVELINA

They give me strength.

THE DOCTOR

It doesn't look like it to me.

EVELINA

Is that your opinion... as a
doctor?

THE DOCTOR

I beg your pardon?

EVELINA

Doctor. That's your name.

THE DOCTOR

(bewildered)How did you
know that?

EVELINA

And you, you call yourself noble.

METELLA

Now then Evelina, don't be rude.

THE DOCTOR

No, no, no. Let her talk.

EVELINA

You both come from so far away.

LUCIUS

A female soothsayer in inclined
to invent all sorts of vagaries.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, not this time, Lucius. I
reckon you've been out-soothsaid.

LUCIUS

Is that so... man from Gallifrey?

THE DOCTOR

What?

LUCIUS

Strangest of images. Your home
is lost in fire, is it not?

DONNA

Doctor, what are they doing?

LUCIUS

And you, daughter of... London.

DONNA

How does he know that?

LUCIUS

This is the gift of Pompeii.
Every single oracle tells the truth.

DONNA

But that's impossible.

LUCIUS

Doctor, she is returning.

THE DOCTOR

Who is? Who's she?

LUCIUS

And you, Daughter of London... you
have something on your back.

DONNA

(scared)What's that mean?

EVELINA

Even the word "Doctor"
is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars of the cascade of
Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord... of time...

EVELINA faints.

METELLA

Evelina!

THE DOCTOR and METELLA rush to EVELINA's prone figure.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

EVELINA is unconscious on
the bed and METELLA is caring for her as DONNA approaches.

METELLA

She didn't mean to be rude. She's
ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her...

METELLA unwraps a
cloth from EVELINA's arm.

DONNA

What's wrong with her arm?

METELLA

An irritation of the skin. She
never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night.

DONNA

What is it?

DONNA walks closer.

METELLA

Evelina said you'd come from far
away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it?

DONNA runs her fingers along EVELINA's arm.

DONNA

It's stone.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

THE DOCTOR and CAECILIUS are at the hypocaust. THE
DOCTOR removes the grille.

THE DOCTOR

Ah! Different sort of hypocaust.

CAECILIUS

Oh yes, we're very advanced in
Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces, but we've
got hot springs... leading from Vesuvius itself.

THE DOCTOR

Who thought of that?

CAECILIUS

The soothsayers after the great
earthquake seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage but we rebuilt.

THE DOCTOR

Didn't you think of moving away?
Oh, no, then again, San Francisco.

CAECILIUS

That's a new restaurant in
Naples, isn't it?

THE DOCTOR looks down into the Earth where there is a
loud grating and rumbling.

THE DOCTOR

What's that noise?

CAECILIUS

Don't know. Happens all the
time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring.

THE DOCTOR

But after the earthquake... let
me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?

CAECILIUS

Oh yes, very much so. I mean,
they'd always been... shall we say "imprecise"? But then... the
soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex--all of them, they saw the truth again and
again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute
precision.

THE DOCTOR

Have they said anything about tomorrow?

CAECILIUS

No. Why should they? Why do you
ask?

THE DOCTOR

No, no, no reason. Just asking.
But the soothsayers... they all consume the vapours?

CAECILIUS

That's how they see.

THE DOCTOR

(puts on glasses) Ipso
facto...

He leans into the hypocaust.

CAECILIUS

Look, you...

THE DOCTOR

(straightens)They're all
consuming this.

He pinches rock particles.

CAECILIUS

Dust?

THE DOCTOR

Tiny particles of rock.(sprinkles
them before tasting) They're breathing in Vesuvius.

QUINTUS is lounging, sipping wine when THE DOCTOR
walks up

THE DOCTOR

Quintus, me old son... this Lucius
Petrus Dextrus, where does he live?

QUINTUS

Nothing to do with me.

THE DOCTOR

(walks up beside lounge)
This Lucius Petrus Dextrus... (pulls coin from behind QUINTUS' ear) where
does he live?

EXT. NIGHT, STREETS OF POMPEII

QUINTUS, holding a torch, leads THE DOCTOR through
the streets. He stops outside LUCIUS'.

QUINTUS

Don't tell my dad.

THE DOCTOR

(leaps onto a barrel before climbing
onto the windowsill) Only if you don't tell mine.

He enters the villa.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

Inside it's dark except for the light from the
hypocaust.

THE DOCTOR

Pass me that torch.

THE DOCTOR checks that no one is around. Outside,
QUINTUS nervously looks about before climbing through the window. THE DOCTOR looks
behind a curtain then hands QUINTUS the torch. With both hands free, he pulls
down the curtain to reveal more "circuits".

QUINTUS

The liar. He told my father it
was the only one.

THE DOCTOR

(slips on glasses) Well...
plenty of marble merchants in this town. Tell them all the same thing; get all
the components from different places so no one can see what you're building.

QUINTUS

Which is what?

LUCIUS

The future... Doctor. (THE DOCTOR
and QUINTUS turn around) We are building the future as dictated by the
gods.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

EVELINA is laughing as DONNA gets used to her new
gown.

DONNA

You're not supposed to laugh.
Thanks for that. What do you think? (strikes a pose)The goddess Venus.

EVELINA

(laughing) Oh, that's
sacrilege.

DONNA

Nice to see you laugh, though. (sits
beside her on the bed)What do you do in old Pompeii, then... girls your
age? You got... mates? Do you go hangin' about 'round the shops? T.K.
Maximus?

EVELINA

(shakes head)I'm promised
to the sisterhood for the rest of my life.

DONNA

You get any choice in that?

EVELINA

It's not my decision. I have the
gift of sight. The sisters chose for me.

DONNA

Then... what can you see
happening tomorrow?

EVELINA

Is tomorrow special?

DONNA

You tell me. What do you see?

EVELINA

(closes eyes)The sun will
rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all.

EVELINA covers her eyes with her hands thus creating a
link with the sisterhood. They can hear everything DONNA says.

DONNA

Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've
got to hear me out...

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA

Sisters...

All sisters cover their eyes.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

DONNA

Evelina, can you hear me?
Listen.

EVELINA

There is only one prophecy.

DONNA

But everything I'm about to say
to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going
to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and
rocks... tons and tons of it and... this whole town is gonna get buried.

EVELINA

That's not true.

DONNA

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but
everyone's gonna die.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA

A new prphesies.

THALINA

Impossible. There is only
one.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

DONNA (CONT'D)

Even if you don't believe me,
just tell your family to get out of town... just for one day, just for
tomorrow. But you've got to get out! Just leave Pompeii!

EVELINA

(upset) This is false
prophecy!

She breaks contact with the sisters.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

The sisters kneel in front of the High Priestess

SPURRINA

The Noble woman, she spoke of a
new prophecy... the fall of Pompeii.

HIGH PRIESTESS

Pompeii will last forever.

SPURRINA

Then what must we do?

HIGH PRIESTESS

The false prophet must die.
Sacrifice her.

The sisters bow their heads.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

THE DOCTOR is arranging the marble slabs.

THE DOCTOR

Put this one... there. (takes
another from QUINTUS)This one... there. Uh... I'll keep that one upside
down. What have you got?

LUCIUS

Enlighten me.

THE DOCTOR

What? The soothsayer doesn't
know?

LUCIUS

The seed may float on the breeze
in any direction.

THE DOCTOR

Yeah, I knew you were gonna say
that. But... it's an energy converter.

LUCIUS

An energy converter of what?

THE DOCTOR

I don't know. Isn't that
brilliant? I love not knowing, keeps me on my toes. (moves to stand beside
LUCIUS)It must be awful, being a prophet. Waking up every morning, "Is
it raining? Yes, it is. I said so." Takes all the fun out of life. But
who designed this, Lucius? Hmm? Who gave you these instructions?

The thudding continues and stalls and baskets fall
over even though nothing is there.

THE DOCTOR

They're footsteps.

QUINTUS

It can't be.

THE DOCTOR

Footsteps underground!

QUINTUS

What is it? What is it?

THE DOCTOR turns QUINTUS around and they continue
running. As they pass vents, steam blows up like geysers.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

METELLA

What is it? What's that noise?

CAECILIUS

Doesn't sound like Vesuvius.

THE DOCTOR comes running in.

THE DOCTOR

Caecilius! All of you, get out!

DONNA

Doctor, what is it?

THE DOCTOR

I think we're being followed.

The grille over the hypocaust is blown into the air.

THE DOCTOR

Just get out!

THE DOCTOR tries to
herd everyone out the door as the ground beneath the hypocaust cracks and a loud
growling is heard. No one moves. A creature made of stone and magma forces
its way through.

EVELINA

The gods are with us.

THE DOCTOR

Water! We need water! Quintus,
all of you, get water! Donna!

DONNA, QUINTUS and one of the servants run out of the
room. RHOMBUS steps towards the creature.

RHOMBUS

Blessed are we to see the gods.

The creature breathes fire and RHOMBUS is burned to
ash. THE DOCTOR approaches, hands out.

THE DOCTOR

Talk to me! That's all I want!
Talk to me. Tell me who you are. Don't hurt these people.

On her way back with water, the sisterhood takes
DONNA. EVELINA witnesses it.

DONNA

(muffled) Doctor! Doctor!

THE DOCTOR

Talk to me. I'm the Doctor.
Tell me who you are.

The creature prepares to breath on THE DOCTOR just as
QUINTUS and the servant return with urns. QUINTUS dips it in the pool.

QUINTUS

Doctor!

They throw the water at the creature and it seems to
freeze before falling and crumbling to pieces.

CAECILIUS

What was it?

THE DOCTOR

Carapace of stone... held
together by internal magma. Not too difficult to stop. But I reckon that's
just a foot soldier.

METELLA

Doctor... or whatever your name
is... you bring bad luck in this house.

THE DOCTOR

I thought your son was
brilliant. Aren't you going to thank him?

QUINTUS looks at THE DOCTOR, amazed that he would say
something. METELLA hugs him.

THE DOCTOR

Still... guess there are aliens
at work in Pompeii and it's a good thing we stayed. Donna! (turns around)
Donna? Donna?!

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

DONNA

You have got to be kidding me.

DONNA is lying on a sacrificial altar and SPURRINA is
holding a dagger above her.

SPURRINA

The false prophet will surrender
both her blood and her breath.

DONNA

I'll surrender you in a minute.
Don't you dare!

SPURRINA

You will be silent.

DONNA

You might have eyes on the back
of your hands but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I
finish with you! Let me... go!

SPURRINA

This prattling will cease... forever.

She raises dagger above her head in preparation to strike.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, that'll be the day.

SPURRINA

No man is allowed to enter the
Temple of Sybil.

THEDOCTOR

Oh, that's all right, just us
girls. (starts to walk towards them) Do you know, I met the Sibyl once.
Hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance a tarantella. Truth be told, I think
she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, "I
know". Well, she would. (stops in front of altar) You all right
there?

DONNA

(sarcastically) Oh, never
better.

THE DOCTOR

I like the toga.

He reaches into his pocket and takes out the sonic screwdriver.

DONNA

Thank you. And the ropes?

THE DOCTOR

Eh, not so much.

He uses the screwdriver on the ropes.

SPURRINA

What magic is this?

THE DOCTOR

(flips the sonic screwdriver
and puts it away)Let me tell you about the Sibyl... the founder of this
religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned
sour. Is that how you spread the word, eh? On the blade of a knife?

SPURRINA

Yes... a knife that now welcomes
you!

She raises the knife.

HIGH PRIESTESS

Show me this man.

They all turn towards the curtain and the sisters
kneel.

SPURRINA

High Priestess, the stranger
would defy us!

HIGH PRIESTESS

Let me see. This one is
different. He carries starlight in his wake.

THE DOCTOR and DONNA approach the curtain.

THE DOCTOR

Ah, very perceptive. Where do
these words of wisdom come from?

HIGH PRIESTESS

The gods whisper to me.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, they've done far more than
that. Ah, might I beg audience, look upon the High Priestess?

The curtains part.

DONNA

(gasps)Oh my God! What's
happened to you?

The HIGH PRIESTESS sits upon a bed, her body nearly
converted completely to stone.

HIGH PRIESTESS

The heavens have blessed me.

THE DOCTOR

If I might... (motions that he'd
like to step closer. She raises her arm and THE DOCTOR kneels and touches it)
Does it hurt?

HIGH PRIESTESS

It is necessary.

THE DOCTOR

Who told you that?

HIGH PRIESTESS

The voices.

DONNA

Is that what's happening to
Evelina? (turns to sisters) Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?

SPURRINA

(approaches, sleeve pulled
back)The blessings are manifold.

DONNA

(touches SPURRINA'S arm)
They're stone.

THE DOCTOR

Exactly.(stands and walks
back to DONNA)The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the
volcano erupts. But why?

HIGH PRIESTESS

This word... this image in your
mind, this "volcano", what is that?

THE DOCTOR

More to the point, why don't you
know about it? Who are you?

HIGH PRIESTESS

High Priestess of the Sibyline.

THE DOCTOR

No, no, no, no. I'm talking to
the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in
the dust in the lungs... taking over the flesh and turning it into... what?

HIGH PRIESTESS

Your knowledge is impossible.

THE DOCTOR

Oh, but you can read my mind.
You know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are!

HIGH PRIESTESS

(echoing) We... are... awakening!

SPURRINA

The voice of the gods!

SISTERS

(chanting) Words of
wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power.

They keep on repeating this.

THE DOCTOR

Name yourself! Planet of origin,
galactic coordinates, species designation according to the universal
ratification of the Shadow Proclamation.

I warn you... I'm armed. (pulls
out water pistol) Donna, get that grille open.

DONNA

What are...?

THE DOCTOR

Just... (jerks head and DONNA
goes to hypocaust) What are the Pyrovile doing here?

HIGH PRIESTESS

We fell from the heavens. We
fell so far and so fast we were rendered into dust.

THE DOCTOR

Right. Creatures of stone
shatter on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?

HIGH PRIESTESS

We have slept beneath for
thousands of years.

THE DOCTOR

Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up
and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic
powers?

HIGH PRIESTESS

We opened their minds and found
such gifts.

THE DOCTOR

Yeah, okay, fine. You force
yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that.
I get that. Yeah, but... seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can
see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?

SPURRINA watches THE DOCTOR as the HIGH PRIESTESS
moans.

DONNA

I got it!

THE DOCTOR

Now get down.

He moves towards
her, water pistol still aimed at the HIGH PRIESTESS.

DONNA

What, down there?

THE DOCTOR

Yes, down there! Why can't this
lot predict the volcano? Why is it being hidden?

SPURRINA

Sisters, I see into his mind.
The weapon is harmless.

THE DOCTOR

Yeah, but it's got a sting! (shoots
water and the HIGH PRIESTESS who moans in pain)Get down there!

DONNA drops through the opening and THE DOCTOR follows.

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

DONNA

You fought her off with a water
pistol. I bloody love you.

THE DOCTOR

(gets up) This way.

DONNA

Where are we going now?

THE DOCTOR

Into the volcano.

DONNA

No way.

THE DOCTOR

Yes way.(twirls pistol)
Appian way.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

HIGH PRIESTESS

The stranger would threaten our
great endeavour. The time has come. The prophecy must advance.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

LUCIUS is staring into the hypocaust.

LUCIUS

The prophecy must advance. They
will be done.(to guard)Summon the cult of Vulcan.

GUARD

Yes, sir.

LUCIUS

We must go to the mountain.
Vesuvius awaits.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS

Sunrise, my love. A new day. Even
the longest night must end.

QUINTUS

The mountain's worse than ever.

METELLA

We killed a messenger of the gods
in our own house.(to Evelina)Sweetheart, can you see? Tell us. What's
going to happen?

QUINTUS

Just... leave her alone.

EVELINA

I can see...

METELLA

What is it?

EVELINA

A choice. Someone must make a
choice. (in tears) The most terrible choice.

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

THE DOCTOR and DONNA walk through the tunnels toward
Vesuvius.

DONNA

But if it's aliens setting off
the volcano, doesn't that make it all right? For you to stop it?

THE DOCTOR

Still part of history.

DONNA

Well, I'm history too. You saved
me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?

THE DOCTOR

Some things are fixed, some
things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.

DONNA

How do you know which is which?

THE DOCTOR

(stops) Because that's how
I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was... what
could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the
only one left.

He walks on.

DONNA

How many people died?

THE DOCTOR

Stop it!

DONNA

Doctor! (he stops and turns) How
many people died?

THE DOCTOR

Twenty thousand.

DONNA

Is that what you can see,
Doctor? All twenty thousand? And you think that's all right, do you?

They hear the screech of a Pyrovile.

THE DOCTOR

They know we're here! Come on.

EXT. DAY, OUTSIDE MT VESUVIUS

LUCIUS approaches Vesuvius with the Cult of Vulcan,
bringing the circuits.

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

THE DOCTOR and DONNA run through the tunnels avoiding
pockets of flame.

EXT. DAY, OUTSIDE MT VESUVIUS

LUCIUS

Oh, mighty Vesuvius accept these
offerings in Vulcan's design and show unto us, I beseech you, the gods of the
Underworld.

The members of the cult kneel as a Pyrovile steps out
of a cave.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

THE DOCTOR and DONNA arrive at a great cavern.

THE DOCTOR

It's the heart of Vesuvius.(Pyroviles
are walking about) We're right inside the mountain.

DONNA

There's tons of 'em.

THE DOCTOR

What's that thing?

He takes out a small collapsible telescope.

DONNA

Well, you'd better hurry up and
think of something. Rocky IV's on its way.

THE DOCTOR sees the interior of a ship.

THE DOCTOR

That's how they arrived... or
what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?

He collapses the telescope.

DONNA

But why do they need a volcano?
Maybe... it erupts and they launch themselves back in space or something.

THE DOCTOR

No, it's worse that that.

DONNA

How can it be worse? (A
Pyrovile roars.)Doctor, it's getting closer.

LUCIUS

Heathens! (he is higher up in
the cavern) Defilers! They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods!

THE DOCTOR

Come on!

THE DOCTOR and DONNA run across the cavern floor.

DONNA

We can't go in!

THE DOCTOR

We can't go back!

LUCIUS

Crush them! Burn them!

THE DOCTOR and DONNA stop suddenly as a Pyrovile rises
in front of them. THE DOCTOR takes out the water pistol and uses it on the
Pyrovile who shies away. With a look up at LUCIUS, they continue running.

LUCIUS

There is nowhere to run, Doctor...
and Daughter of London.

THE DOCTOR

(stands in front of pod)
Now then, Lucius. My lord Pyrovillian... don't get yourselves in a lava. (looks
at DONNA)In a lava... no?

DONNA

No.

THE DOCTOR

No. But if I might beg the
wisdom of the gods before we perish... once this new race of creatures is
complete... then what?

A Pyrovile walks towards them, crushing boulders in
its path.

LUCIUS

My masters will follow the
example of Rome itself, an almighty empire, bestriding the whole of
civilization.

DONNA

But if you've crashed... and you've
got all this technology, why don't you just go home?

LUCIUS

The heaven of Pyrovillia is gone.

THE DOCTOR

What do you mean "gone"?
Where's it gone?

LUCIUS

It was taken. Pyrovillia is
lost. But there is heat enough in this world for our new species to rise.

THE DOCTOR

Yeah, I should warn you, it's 70%
water out there.

LUCIUS

Water can boil and everything
will burn, Doctor!

THE DOCTOR

(puts water pistol away)
Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know.
Donna!

He pushes her into the pod and follows, using the sonic screwdriver on
the door.

LUCIUS

You have them, my lords.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA

Could we be any more trapped?

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

A Pyrovile breathes flames at the pod.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA

Little bit hot.

THE DOCTOR

See, the energy converted takes
the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix which wields Pyrovile to
human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions.

DONNA

Well, can you change it... with
these controls?

THE DOCTOR

'Course I can, but don't you
see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano.
Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power.
They're gonna use it to take over the world.

DONNA

But you can change it back.

THE DOCTOR

Well, I can avert the system, so
the volcano will blow them up, yes, but... that's the choice, Donna. It's
Pompeii or the world.

DONNA

(shocked) Oh my God.

THE DOCTOR

If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's
not just history, it's me. I make it happen.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

The Pyrovile is still breathing fire.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA

But the Pyrovile are made of
rock. Maybe they can't be blown up.

THE DOCTOR

(working on machinery)
Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. (looks
at DONNA)Certainly not us.

DONNA

Never mind us.

THE DOCTOR

(puts his hands on the lever)
Push this lever and it's all over. Twenty thousand people.

THE DOCTOR seems unwilling
to be responsible for so many deaths even in the course of saving the planet.
DONNA puts her hands on the lever with his. The look at each other before
pressing down.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

EVELINA senses the change in the future with a gasp.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA and the other sisters also feel the change.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

LUCIUS

Nooooo! Noooooo!

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

HIGH PRIESTESS

Nooooo!

SPURRINA

A new prophesy!

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

EVELINA

The future is changing.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

LUCIUS screams as the flames of the volcano burn him.
The Pyroviles shriek.

EXT. DAY, MOUNT VESUVIUS

The mountain erupts sending ash -- and the pod -- into
the air.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

THE DOCTOR and DONNA are thrown about.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS

(looking up) The sky is
falling!

EVELINA

Death. Only death!

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

Stunned, the townspeople don't know what to do as they
watch the mountain.

EXT. DAY, MOUNT VESUVIUS

THE DOCTOR and DONNA climb out of the escape pod, a
little shaken.

THE DOCTOR

It was an escape pod.

He looks behind them and sees the volcano. He grabs DONNA's hand and they run.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The people watch as the cloud of ash turns day into
night, blotting out the sun.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The quake shakes the villa, dust and furniture
falling.

CAECILIUS

Out! Out, everybody out! Quickly!

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The people begin to panic and scream as they run to
escape the town.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

They try to make their way out as the ceiling falls in
around them.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The ash begins to fall. THE DOCTOR and DONNA run
through the streets.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The family finds their exit blocked.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

The HIGH PRIESTESS wails as the temple falls around
them. SPURRINA and THALINA are on the floor, the YOUNG SOOTHSAYER lying across
their laps.

SPURRINA

You lied to us! And yet this was
meant to be.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

THE DOCTOR and DONNA try to make their way back to the
TARDIS amidst the chaos in the streets. DONNA tries to help whoever will
listen.

DONNA

Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't
go to the beach, go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go to the beach, it's not
safe! Listen to me...! (She sees a little boy crying, alone, and goes to
him.) Come here.

WOMAN

(snatches the boy away)
Give him to me!

DONNA just stands there crying, devastated, until THE
DOCTOR grabs her hand.

THE DOCTOR

Come on.

THE DOCTOR and DONNA continue on to CAECILIUS' villa.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

THE DOCTOR and DONNA arrive at CAECILIUS' villa. The
family is huddled together.

CAECILIUS

Gods save us, Doctor!

THE DOCTOR stares at them before heading for the
TARDIS.

DONNA

You can't! Doctor, you can't!

She follows him inside the TARDIS.

INT. TARDIS

THE DOCTOR is at the console, preparing to
dematerialise.

DONNA

You can't just leave them!

THE DOCTOR

Don't you think I've done
enough? History's back in place and everyone dies.

THE DOCTOR releases the brake and the TARDIS starts to
dematerialise. His face shows no emotion, whereas DONNA has tears streaming
down her cheeks.

DONNA

It's not fair.

THE DOCTOR

No, it's not.

DONNA

But your own planet, it burned.

THE DOCTOR

(looks at her)That's just
it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand? If I could go back and save
them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just... can't!(softer) I can't.

DONNA

Just someone. Please. Not the
whole town. Just save someone.

THE DOCTOR just looks at her.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS and his family huddle together as ashes
fall. They hear the sound of the TARDIS and a bright light fills the room as
it materialises. The door opens and the figure of THE DOCTOR is silhouetted
against a white light. He reaches out his hand.

THE DOCTOR

Come with me.

CAECILIUS reaches out his hand and grasps THE DOCTOR's.

EXT, HILL OVERLOOKING POMPEII

A cloud of ash and smoke flows over the town. THE
DOCTOR, DONNA, CAECILIUS, and his family watch from the hills.

THE DOCTOR

It is never forgotten,
Caecilius. Oh time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade, but one
day... Pompeii will be found again... in thousands of years... and everyone
will remember you.

DONNA

What about you, Evelina? Can you
see anything?

EVELINA

The visions have gone.

THE DOCTOR

The explosion was so powerful, it
cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift
of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not
anymore. You're free.

METELLA

But tell me... who are you,
Doctor... with your words... and your temple containing such size within?

THE DOCTOR

Oh, I was never here. Don't tell
anyone.

CAECILIUS

The great go Vulcan must be
enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of... volcano. (voice
breaks)All those people...

CAECILIUS hugs METELLA. QUINTUS takes EVELINA'S hand. THE DOCTOR and DONNA
slip back into the TARDIS.